Department for Transport

Transport: Per Capita Costs

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2017 to Question 108962, on transport: per capita costs, if he will provide equivalent data for 2016-17 onwards.

Jesse Norman: The statistics for transport capital investment per head for 2016-17 were published on 9 November 2017 (see table below). As this draws on historic accounting data, it may not be possible to use this methodology to provide equivalent data for future spending.  DfT capital expenditure per person on transport by country and region: United Kingdom, 2007-08 to 2016-17£ millionsCountry/Region2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17East of England86.589.892.1133.3122.1East Midlands59.774.1103.797.183.8London138.5137.6171.9273.2298.9North East50.554.075.4101.892.6North West74.671.194.9148.5145.3South East77.396.399.9152.1180.3South West58.251.662.089.4114.2West Midlands70.683.4113.5152.9155.8Yorkshire and the Humber97.392.1118.3164.7115.6England 84.0  88.5  108.3  156.7  160.2It should be noted that big projects, such as Crossrail, which is the largest infrastructure project in Europe, can significantly distort these figures. In addition to this it is not possible to allocate spending precisely on a project that crosses and benefits many regions, for example HS2. This Department focuses on delivering outcomes for transport users, not on spending per head. An analysis of regional spend per head of resident population would not, for example, take into account the pressure that large numbers of commuters and visitors from outside of a region can add to a region’s transport networks. In addition, larger and more densely built-up areas tend to make greater use of mass public transport systems. For example, in 2015/16 there were 537 million rail journeys within the London area compared to 142 million in the North. Investment by the Department is made based on a fair and rigorous process that ensures that spending goes where it is most needed.The Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline (NICP) publishes a forward look of transport capital investment for 2016-17 to 2020-21. However, due to methodological challenges, the majority of public sector transport capital investment is not allocated to specific English regions. It therefore does not provide a complete picture on spend per capita by region.

Railway Stations: Disability

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of stations on the rail network do not have staff available to assist disabled passengers who arrive at a station without having made an advance booking.

Paul Maynard: Station staffing is a matter for individual train operating companies. Details of the staff available at individual stations are published on the National Rail Enquiries website. The Government does not hold this information. As part of their licence to operate each train operating company is required to have a Disabled Persons’ Protection Policy (DPPP) in place. This sets out the level of services and facilities that disabled passengers can expect, how to get staff assistance and how to get help if things do go wrong. Within this policy, train operating companies must commit to participating in the Passenger Assist system. The Equalities Act 2010 requires that train operating companies make reasonable adjustments to allow access to their services. For example, if a passenger cannot access a particular station, train operating companies are required to provide a free accessible taxi to the nearest accessible station.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Department for Communities and Local Government: Telephone Services

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which public telephone lines for his Department's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each such telephone line in the last 12 months.

Mr Marcus Jones: No public telephone lines were charged at higher rates by my Department and no income was taken in the past 12 months.

Housing: Timber

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department provides to increase the number of modular housing built with timber frames.

Alok Sharma: The Government is committed to increasing housing supply by creating a diverse housing market, where housebuilders embrace innovation to become more productive and deliver better homes. Building more homes using modern methods of construction, including modular homes or timber frame homes, is a key part of this.The Housing White Paper, published in February sets out a number of measures to stimulate the growth of this sector. These will create new opportunities for the use of modern methods of construction to encourage investors into the sector and give current suppliers confidence to expand into the housing market.Last year the Secretary of State launched the £3 billion Home Building Fund, which provides support to builders using modern methods of construction, in addition to custom builders, small and medium-sized builders, and new entrants to the market.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) households and (b) children who previously lived in Grenfell Tower were still living in hotels or bed and breakfast accommodation as of 1 November 2017.

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2017 to Question 106692, how many children who lived in Grenfell Tower are living in hotel accommodation as of 6 November 2017.

Alok Sharma: On 7 November, data provided to my Department by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea showed there were 55 children who previously lived in Grenfell Tower or Grenfell Walk, living in emergency accommodation. Emergency accommodation includes hotels, serviced apartments and living with family or friends.The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is working to ensure all families affected by the Grenfell tragedy can move into interim or settled accommodation at the earliest opportunity.

Housing: Students

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Oral Statement of 6 November 2017, Official Report, column 1212, how many of the 26 student residential buildings that have failed tests through the building safety programme are owned by (a) universities and (b) others in the private sector.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Oral Statement of 6 November 2017, Official Report, column 1222, to which universities the 26 student residential buildings that have been tested through the building safety programme and failed those tests belong; and what those buildings are.

Alok Sharma: My department’s officials are in regular contact with counterparts at the Department for Education and with student residence buildings owners to ensure the safety of students living in the 26 student residences which have been identified with Aluminium Composite Material cladding which is unlikely to meet the limited combustibility requirements set out in Building Regulations guidance. We are considering what further information it may be appropriate to release.

HM Treasury

Diesel Vehicles: Taxation

Kate Green: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 5.11 of the Spring Budget 2017 that the Government will explore the appropriate tax treatment for diesel vehicles, and will engage with stakeholders ahead of making any tax changes at Autumn Budget 2017, what tax treatment measures the Government has explored; and which stakeholders the Government has engaged with on that matter.

Kate Green: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 20 of the Government's UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations, what progress the Government has made on considering a change to the tax treatment of new diesel vehicles.

Kate Green: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on introducing a targeted diesel scrappage scheme.

Kate Green: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with (a) local authorities and (b) Cabinet colleagues on increasing the level of funding available for the maintenance and installation of electric vehicle infrastructure.

Kate Green: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on reforming vehicle excise duty banding to include harmful nitrogen dioxide emissions.

Andrew Jones: The government is committed to taking action to improve air quality and making sure our towns and cities are clean, healthy places to live. Ministers meet regularly with relevant stakeholders to discuss transport and environmental issues, including air quality, and continued to do so over the summer. We continue to consider a range of tax and spending measures that might be needed to support our air quality objectives. Any such measures will be announced in due course, including at Budget. The Chancellor discusses matters of interest with his cabinet colleagues on a regular basis.

Landfill Tax: Tax Yields

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount accrued to the public purse in landfill tax in each of the last five years by region.

Andrew Jones: HMRC does not hold information on Landfill Tax (LFT) receipts by region, but total receipts from LFT are published here:https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx The ONS have published experimental statistics on estimates of LFT receipts by region, which can be accessed here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/publicsectorfinance/articles/countryandregionalpublicsectorfinances/2015to2016#revenue

Treasury: Official Hospitality

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's publication HMT minsters' meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel: 1 April to 30 June 2017, published on 13 October 2017, whether (a) representatives or employees of the firm which offered that hospitality and (b) lobbyists or contractors of those firms were present at those events.

Andrew Jones: With reference to the aforementioned publication, for meetings where a firm offered hospitality, representatives or employees of the firm were present. As these events were hosted by external organisations, HM Treasury does not hold the full guest list for all events, and therefore cannot confirm whether contractors and lobbyists of those firms were present at each meeting.

Tobacco: North Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many enforcement actions for the sale of illegal tobacco products have taken place in North Wales in which locations in each of the last 10 years.

Andrew Jones: HM Revenue & Customs does not record centrally detailed information regarding enforcement actions for the sale of illegal tobacco products. HM Revenue & Customs management information systems within the Fraud Investigation Service do not capture the data sought in a way which is readily available. Collation of any of this information would incur a disproportionate cost.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Commercial Secrets: EU Law

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2017 to Question 111271, on commercial secrets: EU law, what the planned timetable is for that consultation.

Joseph Johnson: As indicated in the answer of 10 November 2017 to Question 111271, the Government intends to consult on the implementing regulation to bring the European Trade Secrets Directive into force in the UK in due course.

Conditions of Employment

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made in making written contracts of employment a legal requirement for all employees regardless of the terms and conditions of their employment in order to protect their employment rights; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: Employees who are employed for one month or more have a statutory right to receive a written statement setting out the main particulars of their employment.Employees who do not receive a written statement, or who believe it to be inaccurate or incomplete, may refer the matter to an employment tribunal.An employee is engaged under a contract of employment, which is brought into existence by an employee’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of employment offered by an employer. The terms of the contract may be expressed or implied, and if expressed, may be written or oral.

Space Technology

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential for industrial growth in the space industry comparing (a) the simple provision of Spaceport services to overseas launch companies and (b) the additional inclusion of an indigenous Launch manufacturing industry.

Joseph Johnson: The UK Space Agency’s call for grant proposals on low cost access to space is ongoing. 26 proposals were submitted in response to the call, demonstrating strong interest in the UK market for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight. Proposals came from spaceports all over the UK, working with vehicle operators from the UK, other European nations and the US. All the proposals submitted were commercial-in-confidence. Several proposals remain under consideration as part of this ongoing grant funding call, and the UK Space Agency is working hard to ensure that any grant funding recommended delivers clear benefits for the UK. Final announcements of the outcome of the call for grant proposals will be later in this financial year. Further information about the call for grant proposals on low cost access to space can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/commercial-spaceflight

Space Technology

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many indigenous launch companies were successful in the most recent development grant funding round for a satellite launch programme and spaceport.

Joseph Johnson: The UK Space Agency’s call for grant proposals on low cost access to space is ongoing. 26 proposals were submitted in response to the call, demonstrating strong interest in the UK market for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight. Proposals came from spaceports all over the UK, working with vehicle operators from the UK, other European nations and the US. All the proposals submitted were commercial-in-confidence. Several proposals remain under consideration as part of this ongoing grant funding call, and the UK Space Agency is working hard to ensure that any grant funding recommended delivers clear benefits for the UK. Final announcements of the outcome of the call for grant proposals will be later in this financial year. Further information about the call for grant proposals on low cost access to space can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/commercial-spaceflight

Conditions of Employment: Parents

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how his Department plans to monitor and evaluate the (a) implementation of and (b) uptake of the ACAS guidance on Workplace support for parents with premature or sick babies.

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how his Department is promoting to employers ACAS guidance on workplace support for parents with premature or sick babies.

Margot James: The Government is committed to supporting working parents of premature and sick babies. Acas worked closely with the Department and various groups such as Bliss and The Smallest Things to get the guidance right and to promote it to the HR community, employers and parents. Both Acas and the Department released press notices to accompany its publication on 5 September. Acas specifically targeted relevant stakeholder groups, including those representing small and large employers and parents. The online Acas guidance on workplace support for parents with premature or sick babies has received approximately 6000 unique views since publication in September. The Government intends to continue using surveys and other means to monitor and evaluate the practices and experiences of both parents and employers.

Royal Bank of Scotland: Small Businesses

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, of 7 November 2017, Official Report, column 1323, what plans he has to discuss the treatment by Royal Bank of Scotland of its small and medium-sized enterprises customers with the Chief Executive of that bank.

Margot James: The Financial Conduct Authority is reviewing the treatment by Royal Bank of Scotland of small and medium-sized enterprise customers referred to the bank’s Global Restructuring Group. The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator responsible for the conduct supervision of all regulated financial firms and is best-placed to investigate these matters.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, of 7 November 2017, Official Report, column 1323, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the safeguards that are in place to prevent inappropriate use of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme and its successors by banks.

Margot James: Since 2009, the Enterprise Finance Guarantee has supported over 28,300 loans, totalling in excess of £3bn to viable small businesses with insufficient security or track record to otherwise obtain finance.The scheme is administered by the British Business Bank, which closely supervises participating lenders through a robust programme of independent audit.The British Business Bank undertakes regular reviews of the programme and published a Strategic and Operational Design Review in April 2016. A further independent evaluation of the economic impact of the scheme will be published this week.

Royal Bank of Scotland: Small Businesses

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 7 November 2017, Official Report, column 1323, on Royal Bank of Scotland: small business customers, what discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the timetable for the Authority to report on its conclusions.

Margot James: My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently met representatives of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to discuss a range of issues, including the FCA’s review of the treatment by Royal Bank of Scotland of small and medium-sized enterprise customers referred to the bank’s Global Restructuring Group. Andrew Bailey, FCA Chief Executive, has commented “We are investigating the matters arising from the Skilled Person’s Report and are focussing on whether there is any basis for further action within our powers.”

Social Services: Minimum Wage

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2017 to Question 111014, on social services: living wage, what representations he has received from representatives of social care providers on compliance with the law on the national minimum wage.

Margot James: I have received several representations from social care providers over the past twelve months – and have met with organisations representing providers to discuss issues relating to the National Minimum Wage and its enforcement. I have also discussed similar issues with representatives of social care workers.

Companies: Ownership

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 34108 on foreign companies: property, if he will provide the same time series data in updated form for (a) Hull, (b) London and (c) each NUTS 1 region of the UK.

Margot James: The information will take time to collate. I will place this in the Libraries of the House as soon as the information is available.

Fireworks: Sales

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ban the public sale of fireworks that are not silent.

Margot James: There are no plans to ban the sale of fireworks that are not silent. The Government is aware of the impact of exceedingly loud fireworks which is why there is already a noise limit in place on consumer fireworks. Under the 2015 Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations the maximum noise level of fireworks, for sale to the public, must not exceed 120dB.

Energy: Meters

Martin Whitfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that consumers can keep smart meters when they switch energy suppliers.

Richard Harrington: Consumers with first generation smart (SMETS1) meters are still able to switch supplier. If the new supplier is not able to operate the meter in 'smart' mode, the meter will continue to record energy consumption accurately and can be used in 'traditional' mode. Second generation smart (SMETS2) meters will be fully compatible between energy providers, therefore allowing all consumers to retain smart services when they switch energy suppliers. The Data and Communications Company is developing a solution to move SMETS1 meters onto the national communications infrastructure to enable consumers to retain their smart services upon switching. We expect this to commence in late 2018.

Fossil Fuels: Scotland

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Scottish oil and gas industry on how that industry can benefit from the industrial strategy.

Richard Harrington: I visited Aberdeen in late August and had detailed discussions with senior representatives from the oil and gas sector at the MER UK Forum and at the Oil & Gas UK Joint Council which included discussions on the modern industrial strategy. I also had a round-table discussion on the topic of the industrial strategy with the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. BEIS officials remain in close contact with oil and gas industry representatives.

Postal Services: North West Durham

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the privatisation of Royal Mail on the provision of postal services in North West Durham.

Margot James: Royal Mail, as the UK’s universal service provider, is required to provide postal services in accordance with the minimum criteria set by Parliament under the Postal Services Act 2011 and quality standards set by Ofcom. Ofcom’s assessments of postal services have been published annually on its website since 2011-12. Royal Mail’s performance is set out in its Annual Reports and Accounts.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to issue a correction to comments he made about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in his evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 1 November 2017.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary updated the House of Commons on 7 November, on his evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee. I kindly refer the honourable member to the Hansard record of his speech on the Counter-Daesh update which clarifies his remarks.

Turkey: Human Rights

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Turkey on the protection of (a) freedom of assembly, (b) freedom of the press, (c) LGBT rights and (d) other human rights.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​The Foreign Secretary and I have frequent discussions with our Turkish counterparts on a wide range of human rights issues. Furthermore, our Embassy in Turkey is supporting projects to monitor the freedom of the press and LGBT rights there. Embassy officials also regularly attend human rights-related trials as observers.

South Georgia: Fisheries

Oliver Dowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent over-fishing in the South Georgia seas.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) manages fisheries with the Territory's Maritime Zone to the highest international standards.The South Georgia toothfish fishery is assessed by the Marine Stewardship Council to be among the most sustainable fisheries in the world.The UK ensures that SGSSI fisheries legislation and management practices are in line with our obligations to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). We work through the CCAMLR Commission to agree sustainable and scientific-based fishery catch limits for the SSGSI Martime Zone, and cooperates with other CCAMLR Members to address issues relating to unreported, unregulated and illegal fishing activities across the Southern Ocean.

Burma: Human Rights

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Rakhine State, Myanmar.

Mark Field: ​​We continue to be deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Rakhine State following the outbreak of violence there in August. While we believe military operations have largely ceased, reports of attacks by vigilantes continue and hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh as a result of the security forces' actions. The Rohingya are seeking refuge because they feel intimidated, they lack humanitarian support and they continue to lack access to livelihoods. There have been reports of serious human rights violations, including sexual violence and extra-judicial killings in Rakhine State.The current situation emphasises the importance of addressing the underlying issues in Rakhine. The UK believes implementation of Kofi Annan's Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations is the best way to achieve longer term resolution of the problems in Rakhine which face all communities there. The UK has been working intensively with international partners to bring pressure to bear on the Burmese government to meet this goal, most recently with the agreement of a Presidential Statement at the UNSC on 6 November. This called on the Burmese government to address the root causes of the conflict, including through the implementation of Kofi Annan's recommendations, for the safe return of the Rohingya refugees back into Rakhine, a transparent investigation of human rights violations, including those of sexual violence, as well as cooperation of the government with UN organisations and access for humanitarian and media organisations to Rakhine

Russia: Human Rights

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in Russia on (a) human and (b) LGBT rights.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Government regularly raises LGBT and wider human rights issues with the Russian Government and authorities. Most recently, I raised the persecution of members of the LGBT community in Chechenya with Senator Aleksey Pushkov on Wednesday 25 October.

Russia: Human Rights

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the state of (a) human rights, (b) LGBT rights, (c) the freedom of the press and (d) freedom of assembly in Russia.

Sir Alan Duncan: The human rights situation in Russia has continued to deteriorate since the information detailed in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2016 Human Rights Report.(https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630623/Human_Rights_and_Democracy_Report_2016_accessible.pdf)Russian courts have declared Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist organisation; the LGBT community in Chechnya have suffered persecution, with reliable reports of murder and torture; independent journalists are facing increasing harassment, with some fleeing Russia in fear of their safety; and there has been an increase in arrests of those attending peaceful demonstrations, including 1500 attendees at rallies in June called for by opposition activist Navalny. Most recently several hundred nationalist extremists were arrested during demonstrations held on 6 November.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Telephone Services

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which public telephone lines for his Department's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each such telephone line in the last 12 months.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office public telephone numbers are prefixed with either London or Milton Keynes codes, or are of the local call rate type. No premium rate numbers are used.

Yemen: Foreign Relations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which members of the Government will attend the next meeting of the Quint nations on Yemen.

Alistair Burt: Foreign ministers usually attend meetings of the Quint nations on Yemen.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Staff

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff appointed after 24 June 2016 in his Department hold a post that includes work on the UK leaving the EU.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​Staff in the Europe Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) lead on providing advice to FCO Ministers on EU and EU-related issues. However, staff in other Directorates in London, as well as staff in our diplomatic missions around the world, also on occasion work on EU-related issues. It is not therefore possible to give precise figures.

Iran: Embassies

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the total fee income of the British Embassy in Iran for (a) Legal Proceedings, (b) Emergency Assistance and (c) Other Services in each year since 2011-12.

Alistair Burt: The British Embassy in Tehran offers a variety of chargeable services in addition to its freely provided consular services. The table below sets out all fees received for services offered by the British Embassy in Iran for each year since FY2016-17. The British Embassy in Iran was closed between November 2011 and August 2015. No services were offered during this period and as a result no data is held between 2011 and 2016. FEEFEES TABLEFY 2016-17FY 2017-18TOTALAdministering an oath or attesting the signature on a declaration/affirmation£ 50.0052£ 350.00Attending at consular premises or elsewhere£ 150.00241£ 3,750.00Certified copies for courts£ 50.00017£ 850.00Copy of document (electronic inside consular premises)£ 25.001610£ 650.00Emergency Travel Document£ 100.005450£ 10,400.00Issuing a certificate of no impediment or certificate de costume£ 50.0011£ 100.00Preparing any certificate etc, not listed elsewhere - in English£ 50.0001£ 50.00Receiving notice of intended marriage, civil partnership, overseas relationship£ 50.0012£ 150.00Supplying witnesses£ 25.0065£ 275.00Uniting documents£ 25.0012£ 75.00TOTAL​10891£ 16,650.00

Counter Proliferation and Arms Control Centre

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many full-time equivalent members of staff work within the Counter Proliferation and Arms Control Centre; and how many such members of staff are working on secondment from (a) his Department, (b) the Department for International Trade, (c) the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and (d) other Government departments.

Boris Johnson: Staff who work as part of the Counter Proliferation and Arms Control Centre (CPACC) remain employed by the relevant department rather than being seconded to CPACC. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has twenty seven posts assigned to CPACC and the Ministry of Defence has ten posts. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have eight posts and Department for International Trade have two posts which work in part on CPACC business.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish a response to the latest charges against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe following her appearance before the Iranian Revolutionary Court on November 2017.

Alistair Burt: As with her court appearance in October, we have never had sight or clarity over the exact charges Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is facing and therefore cannot categorically say whether those it is reported she was subject to on Saturday 4 November are new or the same as those put to her previously. We are urgently seeking clarification from the Iranian authorities. The Foreign Secretary spoke with Foreign Minister Zarif on 7 November, who confirmed that any recent developments in the case were unrelated to the Foreign Secretary's remarks at the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the outcome was of discussions he had with his Iranian counterpart after charges were brought against Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe by the Iranian Revolutionary Court on 4 November 2017.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary updated the House of Commons on the outcome of his conversation with Foreign Minister Zarif on 7 November. I kindly refer the honourable member to the Hansard record of his speech on the Counter-Daesh update, which included a report of his discussion with Foreign Minister Zarif.

Companies: Ownership

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish correspondence between his Department and the Government of Bermuda on its policy on beneficial ownership of companies.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​The Government concluded an Exchange of Notes with the Government of Bermuda in 2016, setting out arrangements for the exchange of beneficial ownership information between Bermuda and the UK. Under the arrangement, UK law enforcement authorities have access, on request, to information on the ultimate owners of companies incorporated in Bermuda within 24 hours or within one hour for the most urgent cases. The Exchange of Notes and key correspondence with the Government of Bermuda on the issue of beneficial ownership are publicly available on the gov.uk website.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iranian counterparts on the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe since his Select Committee appearance on 1 November 2016.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary has raised Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case with his Iranian counterpart multiple times since November 2016. Most recently on 7 November 2017 he spoke with Foreign Minister Zarif in a telephone call. I kindly refer the honourable member to the Hansard record of his speech on the Counter-Daesh update, which included a report of his discussion with Foreign Minister Zarif.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the case Nazanin Zahari-Ratcliffe since 4 November 2017; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary has raised Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case with his Iranian counterpart multiple times since November 2016. Most recently on 7 November 2017 he spoke with Foreign Minister Zarif in a telephone call. I kindly refer the honourable member to the Hansard record of his speech on the Counter-Daesh update, which included a report of his discussion with Foreign Minister Zarif.

British Overseas Territories: Companies

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which of the Overseas Territories currently have (a) non-public and (b) public registers of beneficial ownership.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​As agreed in an Exchanges of Notes between the UK and Overseas Territories with financial entries in April 2016, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and Gibraltar have central registers of beneficial ownership information or similarly effective systems in place. These registers are not public, but information will be accessible to UK law enforcement authorities.Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands also committed to implement arrangements set out in the Exchange of Notes. These Territories are still working to establish a central register or similarly effective arrangement. We continue to monitor progress and to offer support to both Territories.Montserrat has committed to the establishment of a public central register and will shortly introduce new legislation for this purpose.

British Virgin Islands: Companies

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the British Virgin Isles on (a) automatic exchange of beneficial ownership information with HM Revenue and Customs and UK law enforcement agencies and (b) a public central register of beneficial ownership.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign Secretary has not held any recent discussions with the Government of the British Virgin Islands on the systematic exchange of beneficial ownership information with HM Revenue and Customs and UK law enforcement agencies, or on a public central register of beneficial ownership.

Islamic State

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the rise of IS-affiliated groups in Yemen, Libya and North Africa.

Alistair Burt: Defeating Daesh remains a top UK priority, and we continue to play a leading role in the 73 member Global Coalition. The UK is taking a comprehensive approach to tackling Daesh and other terrorist organisations overseas adapting the CONTEST principles of Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare.Her Majesty's Government has a comprehensive Counter Terrorism and Common Vulnerabilities Exposures strategy for North Africa, aligned with the broader North Africa National Security Council Strategy. Daesh is losing in Libya. In December, forces aligned to Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA), with US Air Support, expelled Daesh from their main base in Sirte.The conflict in Yemen has allowed terrorist organisations like Al-Qaeda and Daesh to establish themselves and spread their message of violence and extremism. As the UK no longer maintains a presence on the ground in Yemen, we are working with partners to monitor the threat from these organisations and disrupt any attack planning.Terrorism in both Libya and Yemen will not be defeated without an enduring political settlement in both countries and effective governance to deny terrorist organisations the space in which to operate. The UK is supporting UN-led efforts to amend the Libyan Political Agreement and deliver an effective national government in Libya, which is key to the long term stability of Libya and the region. The Government is also supporting the work of the UN Special Representative in Yemen to broker peace in the present conflict.

British Overseas Territories: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of British Overseas Territories on providing those territories with observer status at the Commonwealth Summit in London in April 2018.

Alistair Burt: ​The UK is committed to strengthening the links between Commonwealth countries. The only category of Commonwealth membership is that of sovereign states. Any decision to create a new membership status would need to be agreed by consensus of Commonwealth Heads of Government.Whilst the Overseas Territories are unable to attend the Heads of Government Meeting in their own right, their interests will be represented by Her Majesty's Government at the Summit next April. My hon. Friend Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN will be discussing a range of issues, including the Commonwealth Summit, with Overseas Territories' leaders at the Joint Ministerial Council at the end of this month.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Working Conditions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) physical and (b) mental wellbeing of staff employed in his Department.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to improving the physical and mental wellbeing of its staff. A dedicated staff wellbeing network was established in the FCO in 2015 and we are working with Civil Service Employee Policy to implement the five health and wellbeing priorities identified by Departmental Permanent Secretaries. This work is led by a Senior Responsible Officer for Health and Wellbeing, supported by the FCO Board Wellbeing Champion.The FCO promotes physical activity through our wellbeing hub, CSSC Sports and Leisure and in-house sports groups. Staff also have access to office gym facilities through paid membership. A robust healthcare system ensures staff and families overseas have access to medical care as close as possible to NHS standards.All staff have access to the FCO's Employee Assistance Programme, which offers a confidential counselling service. A small team of welfare officers support individuals and managers to ensure colleagues have the support they need in times of difficulty. Our Trauma Risk Management programme ensures all staff exposed to potentially traumatic experiences in the course of their work are supported, and that anyone at risk of prolonged post-trauma reaction receives timely therapeutic support. The FCO is developing a network of Mental Health First Aiders across our network and is taking part in the MIND 2017 Workplace Wellbeing Index.

Department for Education

Education: Exports

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what targets she has for exports in education in each of the next three years; and if she will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: A target to increase the value of education exports to £30bn by 2020 was set by the previous government. The target is rightly ambitious and the Department for Education remains committed to working with the rest of government and the sector to driving progress towards achieving it. This Government continues to support growth in UK education exports, including through the work of the team dedicated to education exports in the Department for International Trade (DIT). They have recently announced the establishment of a DIT Education Sector Advisory Board, chaired by my hon. Friend for Wyre Forest (Bill Esterson), which will support the aspirations of the sector internationally. The Government actively promotes study in the UK through the GREAT Campaign and through the British Council, which promotes the UK in over 100 countries. The UK attracts high numbers of overseas students, second only to the USA in terms of our market share, and there continues to be no limit to the number who can come here to study.

Primary Education: Sex and Relationship Education

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to allow parents to remove their child from relationships education classes in primary schools.

Nick Gibb: The issue of withdrawal from Relationships Education in primary schools was discussed during the passage of the Children and Social Work Bill in March and April, and the House agreed that there would be no right of withdrawal from Relationships Education. This is because the subject will cover topics all children should know. The Secretary of State does not, therefore, have the legal power to provide in statute for a right to withdraw from Relationships Education in primary schools.The current engagement process we are undertaking with stakeholders will help us to determine the right, age-appropriate content for relationships education and this will be set out in draft regulations and guidance, upon which we will consult and on which, in the case of the regulations, Parliament will debate and vote.If a primary school chooses to deliver sex education, in addition to Relationships Education, this must be covered in the school’s policy and it must provide for parents to be able to withdraw their child from this education if they wish, except from elements delivered as part of the science curriculum.

Free School Meals

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children were eligible for free school meals in (a) York and (b) the UK in each of the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Figures on the number and proportion of children eligible for free school meals are published, for all local authorities in England, annually. The figures can be found in the statistical first releases available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbersFor each year, the figures for the local authority of York, and for England, are shown in local authority tables 8a – 8d.A UK figure is not available. As education is a devolved matter, statistics on schools are published separately by the four administrations.

Schools: Mental Health Services

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what statutory support is provided in schools for young people with mental health conditions.

Nick Gibb: The statutory SEND Code of Practice sets out what schools should do when they identify that a pupil might be facing difficulties and the approach they should take to meeting their needs. In the most recent change to the Code we acknowledged for the first time that mental health needs can be an underlying cause of special educational need and introduced a new category ‘Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs’ to reflect this. The guidance on requirements for schools to support young people with mental health conditions is covered in chapter 6 of the SEND Code of Practice.Our most recent Supporting Mental Health in Schools and Colleges survey (2017) found that 87 per cent of institutions had a specific plan or policy in place for supporting pupils with identified mental health needs. 61 per cent offered counselling services and 61 per cent also offered educational psychological support for pupils with particular mental health needs; 20 per cent had external specialist mental health services delivered within the institution. Around half provided one to one support for specific issues. Schools also offered support to all pupils – 73 per cent taught sessions to help support good mental health, and 53 per cent taught sessions on particular mental health issues.We will include further proposals in the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Green Paper, which will be published later this year.

Universities: Admissions

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of steps taken by Oxford and Cambridge Universities to improve access and widen participation from under-represented groups; and if she will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: This Government is committed to widening participation to higher education for students from disadvantaged and under-represented groups.The independent Office for Fair Access led by the Director of Fair Access (DfA) is the regulator currently responsible for widening access to higher education in England. Higher education providers wishing to charge tuition fees above the basic fee level must have an Access Agreement, setting out their targets and planned expenditure to improve access for disadvantaged and under-represented groups, and approved by the DfA. Prior to approval, the Director negotiates with institutions to ensure that Access Agreements are stretching and appropriately demanding. Higher Education Institutions are independent from Government and autonomous - legislation specifically precludes Government from interfering with university admissions.The proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds going into higher education rose from 13.6% in 2009 to 19.5% in 2016 - an increase of 43%. We have also seen record entry rates for young people across all ethnic groups including at the most prestigious institutions, and record entry rates for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to the most selective universities. There is however, much more to do. In our guidance to the DfA, published in February 2016, we asked for the most selective institutions, which include the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, to make faster progress on widening access, and to ensure their outreach is more effective. The guidance acknowledged that within this group of institutions there is wide variation, with some demonstrating little progress.Access agreements for the 2018/19 academic year show that the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge plan to spend over £22 million on measures to further improve access and student success for students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds.Following the introduction of the Higher Education and Research Act, from January 2018, the Office for Students (OfS), with a new Director for Fair Access and Participation appointed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, will take on responsibility for widening participation in higher education. The OfS will have a statutory duty to promote equality of opportunity across the whole lifecycle for disadvantaged students, not just access. As a result, widening access and participation will be at the core of the OfS’ functions. In addition, our reforms will introduce a Transparency Duty requiring higher education providers to publish application, offer, acceptance, drop-out and attainment rates of students broken down by ethnicity, gender and socio-economic background. This will shine a spotlight on those higher education institutions that need to go further and faster to widen participation in higher education.

Department for Education: Telephone Services

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which public telephone lines for her Department's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each such telephone line in the last 12 months.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The public phone lines operated by the Department are not charged at higher rates, and so no money was taken in the last 12 months.

Schools: Nutrition

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools received a visit from a qualified and registered nutritionist in each of the last three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I am sorry, but the department does not collect this information. If specialist advice is required from a nutritionist then schools would handle the matter at a local level.

Department for Education: Staff

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff appointed after 24 June 2016 in her Department hold a post that includes work on the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Education does not hold this information. Preparation for the UK’s exit from the European Union has an impact on a wide range of departmental business and is embedded within different policy functions.

Maternity Services: Apprentices

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people were undertaking a senior healthcare support worker (maternity support) apprenticeship at level 3 within an NHS trust at the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: There have been 110 starts on level 3 Health Maternity and Paediatric Support apprenticeships in the 2016/17 academic year. Note:1) This figure is rounded to the nearest ten and based on the provisional full year data.2) Apprenticeship data is collected via the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). We cannot identify employers through the ILR, so are not able to identify NHS Trusts. NHS organisations are required to meet the public sector apprentice target. The NHS has a range of apprenticeships which support the Government’s commitment to widen participation and social mobility throughout the health sector. The Department of Health has recently announced proposals to train 5000 Nursing Associates through the apprentice route in 2018 and a further 7500 in 2019, which will make a significant contribution to NHS target in future years.For further information, data on apprenticeship starts by sector subject and level are available in the FE data library:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/650226/201617_Oct_Apps_Level_SSA_And_Framework_Data_Tool_FINAL.xlsx.

Maternity Services: Apprentices

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeship training providers are ready to deliver the senior healthcare support worker (maternity support) apprenticeship at level 3.

Anne Milton: There are 60 providers currently on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers who have confirmed that they are able to deliver the apprenticeship standard ‘senior healthcare support worker’, which includes options such as maternity support. Further information can be found at: https://roatp.apprenticeships.sfa.bis.gov.uk/download. Information about this apprenticeship, including the training providers that offer it, is available at: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.sfa.bis.gov.uk/Apprenticeship/Standard/151?keywords=senior%20healthcare%20support%20worker%20%28maternity%20support%29%20apprenticeship.

NHS Trusts: Apprentices

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much NHS trusts have paid apprenticeship training providers since 6 April 2017; how much of that spending has been on senior healthcare support worker (maternity support) apprenticeships at level 3; and how many people have started that such apprenticeship since 6 April 2017.

Anne Milton: The department does not collect information on how much NHS trusts have paid to apprenticeship training providers or how much they have spent on a particular apprenticeship. Apprenticeship data is collected via the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). We cannot identify employers through the ILR, so are unable to identify NHS Trusts. The Education and Skills Funding Agency publishes a list of the funding allocated to each training provider for apprenticeship starts annually and updates them throughout the year. Allocations for the 2016 to 2017 funding year can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-funding-allocations-to-training-providers-2016-to-2017. Based on the provisional full year data between 6 April 2017 and the end of July 2017 there were 10 apprenticeship starts on Health Maternity and Paediatric Support apprenticeships at level 3. These figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Information on apprenticeships by sector subject area and level is publically available in the FE data library: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/586183/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xlsx.

Pupils: Diabetes

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all schools have a policy for the care of pupils with Type 1 diabetes.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We know how important it is that children with medical conditions such as Type 1 diabetes are supported to enjoy a full education. That is why we introduced the duty to require governing bodies to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions and have provided statutory guidance outlining schools’ responsibilities in this area. All governing boards should ensure that their school develops a policy for supporting pupils with medical conditions which is reviewed regularly and is readily accessible to parents and school staff. We continue to work with organisations such as the Health Conditions in Schools Alliance to help raise further awareness of the duty on schools, and have recently promoted the duty through the department’s social media channels.

Breakfast Clubs: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2017 to Question 109743, how much of the £26 million of funding to expand breakfast club provision will be spent in each of the next three years.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2017 to Question 109743, how many pupils will benefit from the plans to expand breakfast club provision in each of the next three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The contract is worth up to a total value of £26 million, inclusive of VAT. The aim is to split this over each financial year as follows: £1 million in 2017-18, up to £12.5 million in 2018-19 and up to £12.5 million in 2019-20, commencing in January 2018 and ending 31 March 2020. This money will kick-start or improve breakfast clubs in at least 1,500 schools and support innovation projects. Average pupil attendance at breakfast clubs aims to meet the target of 25% of pupils on roll in primary and secondary schools; 60% of pupils on roll in special schools and PRUs; and reflect the demographic spread of pupils at a school. This is subject to the award of the contract and the appointment of the supplier. The invitation to tender was published on the 16 October 2017.

Wakefield City Academies Trust

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2017 to Question 109401, how many of the schools formerly within the Wakefield City Academies Trust have been placed with new trusts.

Mr Robert Goodwill: None of the schools in the Wakefield City Academies Trust have yet been transferred to new trusts. The department have provisionally identified new trusts for all of the schools to join, and have invited interested groups to share views by 12 November. We are working to transfer all of the schools to new trusts within the current academic year.

Apprentices

Jared O'Mara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the apprenticeship training programmes which the Education and Skills Funding Agency quality approved six months ago are still (a) operational and (b) quality-approved.

Anne Milton: The Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers can be viewed via https://roatp.apprenticeships.sfa.bis.gov.uk/download. It was first published in March 2017. It lists the organisations that are approved to deliver apprenticeship training to employers. From May 2017, all providers who want to deliver apprenticeship training must meet a set criteria regarding due diligence, financial health, capacity and capability, and quality in order to be included on the Register. There are 2184 providers currently listed on the Register and 50 providers have been removed since it was first published on 14 March 2017.

Sign Language: GCSE

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to question 9014, on sign language: GCSE, for what reason it is not Government policy to include British Sign Language as a GCSE; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government has introduced a number of recent changes to GCSEs and A levels in England that will affect schools in the coming years. We know that extensive changes need time to settle, and that school leaders will want stability to ensure the new qualifications are well taught. Therefore, at the present time, there are no plans to introduce any further GCSEs beyond those to which the Government has already committed.There are existing accredited British sign language qualifications including a Level 1 award, Level 2, 3 and 4 certificates and a Level 6 NVQ certificate. The Level 1 and 2 qualifications, equivalent to GCSE grades A*-G or 9-1, have the highest take up. Schools are free to enter pupils for these awards at any point in their school career.

Ministry of Justice

G4S: Electronic Tagging

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to improve the effectiveness of G4S in delivering electronic tagging services.

Mr Sam Gyimah: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 11 September 2017.The correct answer should have been:

Electronic monitoring services in England and Wales have been provided by Capita plc since 20132014. G4S, under a contract with the Department, provide the necessary hardware (electronic tags and home monitoring units) to support the service. The Department has robust processes in place to monitor and manage contractors and will not hesitate to take action when standards fall short.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Electronic monitoring services in England and Wales have been provided by Capita plc since 20132014. G4S, under a contract with the Department, provide the necessary hardware (electronic tags and home monitoring units) to support the service. The Department has robust processes in place to monitor and manage contractors and will not hesitate to take action when standards fall short.

Prisoners: Mental Illness

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners who have been identified with mental health issues (i) have been subsequently moved to a secure mental health hospital, (ii) are still in the prison where those issues were identified, (iii) have moved prison and (iv) have been moved to a bail hostel in each of the last seven years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 12 September 2017.The correct answer should have been:

The total number of prisoners who have been transferred to a secure hospital under sections 47 or 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last seven years, and the numbers of those prisoners recorded as male or female areis set out below:  2010201120122013201420152016Male1011881884994108410671071Female85123112107104106104Total109610049961101118811731175 2010201120122013201420152016Total9459539799901,0611,010980It is not possible to provide a breakdown of these figures by gender; this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Data on how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners who have been identified with mental health issues (ii) are still in the prison where those issues were identified, (iii) have moved prison and (iv) have been moved to a bail hostel in each of the last seven years is not collected centrally. We take the mental health of prisoners extremely seriously, which is why we have increased the support available to vulnerable offenders - especially during the first 24 hours in custody - and invested more in mental health awareness training for prison officers. We are putting more funding into prison safety and have embarked on major Prison Safety Programme, in order to reduce the number of self-inflicted deaths and incidents of self-harm in our prisons. But we recognise that more can be done and continue to work in partnership with HMPPS, NHS England and Public Health England to improve mental health services for offenders at all points of the criminal justice system.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The total number of prisoners who have been transferred to a secure hospital under sections 47 or 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last seven years, and the numbers of those prisoners recorded as male or female areis set out below:  2010201120122013201420152016Male1011881884994108410671071Female85123112107104106104Total109610049961101118811731175 2010201120122013201420152016Total9459539799901,0611,010980It is not possible to provide a breakdown of these figures by gender; this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Data on how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners who have been identified with mental health issues (ii) are still in the prison where those issues were identified, (iii) have moved prison and (iv) have been moved to a bail hostel in each of the last seven years is not collected centrally. We take the mental health of prisoners extremely seriously, which is why we have increased the support available to vulnerable offenders - especially during the first 24 hours in custody - and invested more in mental health awareness training for prison officers. We are putting more funding into prison safety and have embarked on major Prison Safety Programme, in order to reduce the number of self-inflicted deaths and incidents of self-harm in our prisons. But we recognise that more can be done and continue to work in partnership with HMPPS, NHS England and Public Health England to improve mental health services for offenders at all points of the criminal justice system.

Ministry of Justice: Telephone Services

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which public telephone lines for his Department's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each such telephone line in the last 12 months.

Dr Phillip Lee: During 2014 extensive work was undertaken to transfer MoJ’s higher rate customer service lines into local rate numbers. Since that time the responsibility for these lines has been devolved to the ALBs and MOJ does not hold any information centrally, in this regard.

Prisoners: Females

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women in prison have received an adjudication for refusing to (a) transfer to a different prison and (b) move to a different wing within a prison.

Dr Phillip Lee: Whilst published adjudication statistics do contain data on the detailed offences resulting in an adjudication, this cannot be broken down to show only those that have received an adjudication for refusing to transfer prison or refusing to move wing. This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Reoffenders: Unemployment

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of people who lost their job after being recalled to prison in each quarter in each of the last five years.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who lost their home after being recalled to prison in each quarter of the last five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The information requested is not collected centrally and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost. Public protection is our priority. The power to recall is used to ensure that offenders on licence who present a high risk of harm to the public or are at risk of re-offending are returned to custody as quickly as possible. Probation services assess the risk an offender poses and recommend recall where they consider that necessary in all the circumstances. Officials in HM Prison and Probation Service headquarters will then ensure that the probation services have provided the evidence to support the recall before formally revoking the offender’s licence. We are committed to ensuring that the power to recall is used effectively and appropriately and that offender managers identify alternatives to recall wherever possible.

Prisoners: Safety

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of risk assessments for cell-sharing in prisons.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government is committed to keeping prisoners safe. The cell-sharing risk assessment process brings together all available information with the aim of identifying factors that increase the likelihood of harm by or to an offender, so that decisions about locating prisoners in shared cells are made in a way that minimises those risks. We keep the process under review and continue to work to improve the information that is available to staff making these important decisions.

Legal Aid Scheme: Telephone Services

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of the calls received by the Mandatory Civil Legal Advice Gateway in each year since 2013 have been referred for face-to-face advice, for each category of advice.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many calls have been received by the Mandatory Civil Legal Advice Gateway in each year since 2013, for each category of advice.

Dominic Raab: Figures are provided for the full financial years of 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 with data given for each of the Civil Legal Advice Mandatory Gateway categories of Debt, Discrimination and Education. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does not hold data on the number of calls received per category but does record the number of cases per category; a case can have more than one call. This information is shown below. In the table below the number of CLA Operator Service cases is the total number of enquiries irrespective of whether the client is eligible for legal aid or not; the number of cases referred to CLA Specialists is the number of cases identified at initial diagnosis where the client is eligible for legal aid. Financial Year 2013/14  Financial Year 2014/15  Financial Year 2015/16  Financial Year 2016/17  Number of CLA Operator Service cases  Number of cases referred to CLA Specialists  Number of CLA Operator Service cases  Number of cases referred to CLA Specialists  Number of CLA Operator Service cases  Number of cases referred to CLA Specialists  Number of CLA Operator Service cases  Number of cases referred to CLA Specialists  Category of Law  Debt 42,9112,39837,5141,48730,65179619,699646 Discrimination 6,9213,5586,7483,4194,6552,6086,7433,727 Education 3,6471,3123,4671,4253,9911,8783,9282,055 The table below shows the number of clients in each of the categories who either received face-to-face advice via Civil Legal Advice (CLA) or who were referred to legal aid face-to-face advice providers. Please note that in the category of Debt a Civil Legal Advice Provider will make a referral to a suitable Legal Aid Provider if they identify a client as needing face-to-face advice. In the categories of Discrimination and Education the CLA Specialists are contracted by the Legal Aid Agency to also provide Face-to-Face advice when needed.  Financial Year 2013/14 Number of CLA Clients referred/advised Face-to-Face  Financial Year 2014/15 Number of CLA Clients referred/advised Face-to-Face  Financial Year 2015/16 Number of CLA Clients referred/advised Face-to-Face  Financial Year 2016/17 Number of CLA Clients referred/advised Face-to-Face  Category of Law  Debt 1721537655 Discrimination 5650Education 5541

Prison Officers

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the number of prison officers required to maintain safe staffing levels in prisons.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Every prison has an agreed safe, decent and secure operating level (SDSOL) which reflects the category of prison and the types of prisoners held and supports the delivery of the regime in every prison. In addition, this Government is on target to recruit an additional 2500 Prison Officers by December 2018 to improve safety and offender management in custody. Since April 2017 Governors have been empowered to manage workforce planning locally and use this flexibility to set their own staffing arrangements.

Prime Minister

Brexit: Impact Assessments

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Prime Minister, when she was shown the summaries of the sectoral analyses collated by the Department for Exiting the European Union; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa May: The Department for Exiting the European Union has produced a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis since the referendum. This analysis is regularly updated and I and Ministers across Government are kept informed.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Brexit

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff appointed after 24 June 2016 in his Department hold a post that includes work on the UK leaving the EU.

Harriett Baldwin: Information on the precise number of staff appointed after 24 June 2016 who hold a post that includes work on the UK leaving the EU is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Bereavement Counselling

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of staff working in the Bereavement and Aftercare Support Service have received training for their duties in that service since 2014; what training was provided; who delivered that training; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The Army's Bereavement and Aftercare Support team are a part of the overall welfare process, with specific focus for the notification and aftercare support for casualties and bereaved families. Eight of the 10 members of the team have attended a Visiting Officers course. This provides an awareness of the many and varied reactions to the loss of a loved one, an understanding of the extent of the Army's duty of care, and where support for the families can be obtained. Further development comes from the shared experience and best practice gained by working closely with Visiting Officers and Regional Brigade Casualty Officers.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many welfare case officers have been appointed in the armed forces to support an individual on the Vulnerable Risk Management (VRM) system; and what changes to the VRM system his Department has made since 2014.

Harriett Baldwin: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Suicide Vulnerability Risk Management (SVRM) system is part of a preventative strategy aimed at reducing incidences of suicide in the Army. The Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force have similar systems in place. In late 2013, the Army reviewed the SVRM and identified a requirement for an information system to be developed which captured all those on a care assessment plan, replacing the previous manual system. The Vulnerability Risk Management Information System was rolled out across the Army between November 2014 and September 2015.

Armed Forces: Funerals

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the Army Drill Manual directions for military funerals were last revised; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The Army Drill Manual directions for Military Funerals were last amended in September 2007. Some new amendments will be issued soon to reflect recently identified lessons.

Armed Forces: Medical Records

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date he made it his policy to allow personal information to be passed from a Senior Medical Officer and a Regimental Medical Officer to civilian medical officers.

Harriett Baldwin: The Defence Medical Services holds and manages personal and confidential information relating to patients. The relevant legal regulations are: Access to Medical Reports Act 1988.Human Rights Act 1998.Access to Health Records Act 1990.Computer Misuse Act 1990.Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA 98).Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice.Common Law Duty of Confidentiality.Health and Social Care (Safety and Quality) Act 2015.The Caldicott Principles.General Medical Council - Confidentiality: Good Practice in Handling Patient Information (2017).

Armed Forces: Bereavement Counselling

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a support mechanism has been developed with medical and welfare staff for the use of bereavement and aftercare support staff; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: Service personnel who act as Casualty Notification Officers or Visiting Officers are provided with appropriate training and welfare support as necessary, in keeping with these emotionally demanding roles. Bereavement and aftercare support staff are often civilians who do not tend to deal directly with families in the early stages of loss. Line managers are, however, alert to the effect which this type of work might have on staff and provide signposting to support services as necessary. The Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (DPMHWS) 2017-2022 was launched on 20 July 2017 and covers all Defence people. The Strategy identifies the need for strong Partnerships with the Department of Health, the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations and the charitable sector and a new operating model focusing on Promote, Prevent, Treat and Detect. The Strategy is well resourced through connected agencies and services which the forthcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Action Plan will take on and develop, including plans to introduce standardised mental health and wellbeing education and training for all those working in Defence. The DPMHWS can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-people-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy

Armed Forces: Counselling

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has conducted a review of its Welfare Groups examining the (a) relevance, (b) timeline and (c) methods by which information is delivered to families and next of kin following (i) bereavement and (ii) serious injury of (A) regular and (B) reserve personnel since 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The Casualty and Compassionate process is kept under constant review by both the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the single Services. The Defence Internal Auditors (DIA) conducted an end-to-end review of the process, publishing their report in October 2016. The MOD welcomed the report and was addressed the policy issues raised within it. In addition, in conjunction with the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, a "Purple Pack" has been produced. This publication signposts and highlights various avenues of assistance available to families and friends in need. It is produced in electronic format, but hard copies can be printed should a family so wish. The Purple Pack can be accessed at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/joint-casualty-and-compassionate-centre-jccc

Defence Medical Services: ICT

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes have been made to the Defence Medical Information Capability Programme in relation to (a) regular and (b) reserve personnel since 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The Defence Medical Information Capability Programme (DMICP) provides electronic primary healthcare records for all serving personnel, their dependants in some overseas locations and civilian staff deployed in support of operations. The Ministry of Defence works closely with the DMICP software provider to deliver enhancements that reduce the risk to patient safety, irrespective of who the patient is, and reflect legislative changes. Since 2014 a number of minor changes have been made to the DMICP, such as adding new medical practices to the system. More significant changes have also been made, including, but not limited to: • Enabling the monitoring and reporting of performance against the General Medical Services contract Quality and Outcomes Framework. This supports the management of some of the most common chronic diseases.• A new joint system for recording an individual's medical deployability status.• The deployed version of DMICP has benefited from new hardware and enhancements to the software.• An interface between DMICP and the new NHS messaging service, providing electronic delivery of pathology reports from NHS and other laboratories.• A new DMICP training system, allowing more users to be trained and a wider range of training courses to be provided.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2017 to Question 8059, on Yemen: military intervention, of the 293 incidents logged as alleged international humanitarian law violations reportedly conducted by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen since March 2015, what proportion involved dynamic targeting.

Gavin Williamson: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Warrior Armoured Vehicle

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2017 to Question 2038, on armoured fighting vehicles, when he plans to make an investment decision on the number of vehicles to be upgraded under the Warrior Capability Sustainment programme and the timetable for the agreement of a manufacturing contract.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2017 to Question HL863, what the reasons were for the delays to the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme; and when that programme will be completed.

Harriett Baldwin: The fleet size and manufacturing contract are subject to ongoing negotiations, and the investment decision will be based on confirmation of value for money through the Ministry of Defence approvals process. Manufacture timing and numbers will also be dependent on proving the design through trials, which will start in January 2018 and are planned to be completed in 2020.

Ministry of Defence: Saudi Arabia

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether officials of his Department in discussions with Saudi officials are critical of the actions and policies of the Saudi Government; and if he will make a statement.

Gavin Williamson: No aspect of our relationship with Saudi Arabia prevents us from speaking frankly and openly and we will always be ready to speak out as a matter of principle. We raise our concerns with the Saudi authorities using a range of Ministerial and diplomatic channels of communication, including our Ambassador, the Embassy team and the European Union in Riyadh

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of claimants of universal credit in full service areas by each stage of roll-out, including pilots, have gained (a) full and (b) part-time employment.

Damian Hinds: The data is not available in the form requested. However, Information on the employment status of Universal Credit claimants is available as part of the Universal Credit experimental official statistics which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics and https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk. Latest analysis of the short term impacts of Universal Credit on labour market outcomes can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-employment-impact-analysis-update.

Universal Credit: Disability

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the health and wellbeing of disabled claimants who are currently claiming enhanced disability premium and severe disability premium.

Damian Hinds: The core design of Universal Credit for claimants with limited capability for work and work related activity has remained as intended since its introduction in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and the impacts were analysed then. We continue to evaluate the policy as it is delivered. The Universal Credit Evaluation is a comprehensive and multi-dimensional programme of analysis designed to assess economic, social and behavioural impacts of the Universal Credit experience. Research and analysis is conducted to provide continuous tracking and inform the evaluation and the expansion of Universal Credit, focusing specifically on the effects of Universal Credit on all claimants’ behaviours and outcomes. We have always said that there will be transitional protection for those with existing premiums who move over to Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process, whose overall Universal Credit entitlement would be less than under the old system, provided that their circumstances remain the same. Claimants who naturally move to Universal Credit will do so because they have had a change of circumstances. In such cases claimants will continue to have their new welfare support entitlement calculated based on the Universal Credit rules of their new benefit.

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to make Jobcentre Plus telephone lines free of charge.

Damian Hinds: All customer telephone numbers for Universal Credit will change to a Freephone number during November. The introduction of Freephone numbers to replace all of the other customer DWP telephone numbers, which includes Jobcentre Plus telephone lines, will be completed by the end of the calendar year.

Department for Work and Pensions: Working Conditions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) physical and (b) mental wellbeing of staff employed in his Department.

Caroline Dinenage: In November 2016, DWP launched ‘Working Well Together’, its Health and Wellbeing Strategy for all colleagues. The strategy fully aligns to the Civil Service health and wellbeing strategic priorities and DWP’s ‘Keeping Safe’ health and Safety strategy.Through Working Well Together, DWP takes a multi layered approach to the physical and mental wellbeing of its people by building on a culture of education, prevention and early intervention. The strategy aligns with DWP’s prevention and safety risk management programmes centred on minimising psychological as well as physical harm in the workplace. To improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of its people, DWP has: First class support services including Employee Assistance Provider, Occupational Health, Physiotherapy, Eyecare, in addition to Stress Reduction Plans, Wellness Action Plans, Workplace Adjustment Passports and other productsRegularly runs campaigns and interactive broadcasts on topics such as back care awareness, mental health awareness, cancer awareness, amongst others, through an annual Calendar of Health and Wellbeing Activity available for all colleagues to engage inAppointed a Disability, Health and Wellbeing Champion at Board levelBuilt health and wellbeing into DWP’s leadership framework for all colleagues to bring into their key work objectives/performance managementEncourages that conversations take place around mental health and wellbeing as part of regular one-to-one’sMandates Health and Safety training for all colleagues and DSE assessmentsEncourages people to be proactive and seek professional advice on managing health and wellbeing before symptoms ariseOver 550 Health and Wellbeing Advocates at local level, in addition to trained Mental Health First Aiders and Physical First AidersA new pro-active Stress at Work Policy launched on 1 November 2017A bespoke online interactive Health and Wellbeing Zone accessible 24/7 with health and wellbeing information, advice and support servicesA Mediation serviceA range of people policies including Grievance, Harassment and Bullying, Disciplinary and Whistleblowing Additionally, the Department has recently been accredited with a Disability Confident Leader award, the highest possible accolade for a Disability Confident employer, and is the first large government department to achieve this recognition. This is in addition to being awarded the RoSPA Gold award for the 8th year running, for commitment to and management of health and safety in the workplace.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Grasslands: Conservation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to retain and protect meadowlands habitats in the UK.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Environmental policy is devolved across the four nations of the UK. Defra, the Scottish and Welsh governments and the Northern Ireland Executive share a high-level ambition to improve the environment for the next generation and are committed to work together to foster this ambition. In England, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations protect rural land in England that is uncultivated or semi-natural from changes in agricultural activities that might cause damage by either increasing productivity or physically changing field boundaries. Many grasslands are afforded protection as sites of special scientific interest. The Common Agricultural Policy Greening requirements ask Member States to define grasslands that are ‘environmentally sensitive’ and to protect them from ploughing. We have chosen to define permanent grassland within Natura 2000 areas, the network of European sites designated under the EU Habitats and Wild Birds Directives, as ‘environmentally sensitive’ and they are subject to a ‘no plough rule.’ In England through agri-environment schemes, farmers and land managers can manage and restore species rich grassland as part of 5 or 10 year agreements. We currently have 5,061 hectares being managed under our new Countryside Stewardship scheme and 89,476 hectares under the Environmental Stewardship scheme.

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to reply to the letter of 14 June 2017 from the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare on behalf of Organic Milk Supplies Co-operative Ltd about exports to the US and the EU.

George Eustice: A response was issued on 10 November.

Air Pollution: Housing

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to reduce indoor air pollution and the associated public health effects of household pollutants.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Many everyday activities essential for supporting lives and livelihoods such as generating power, transport, industry, agriculture and heating homes, also emit damaging air pollutants which the UK has made legal commitments to control. Defra is working closely with the Department of Health, Public Health England, and their advisors the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants to develop the Clean Air Strategy, setting out how we will reduce pollution. We will publish the Clean Air Strategy for consultation in 2018.

Sheffield Station: Pollution

Jared O'Mara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the levels of pollution in and around Sheffield Midland train station.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Sheffield City Council has been identified in the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations as a local authority with concentrations of NO2 projected to be persistently in exceedance of the legal limit in locations on the A57, A61 and A630. The Government is working with Sheffield City Council and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to produce a local air quality plan to reduce these levels of NO2 in the shortest possible time. The UK Plan also sets out information on annual nitrogen oxide emissions from other transport such as rail. At a national level, emissions from the rail sector are relatively low; however the Government is committed to reducing them further. Recent train operating franchises that the Department for Transport has negotiated include commitments to replace older diesel units with new units compliant with the latest emission standards (through the Non-Road Mobile Machinery Directive) which have become progressively more stringent over time for both NO2 and particulate matter emissions. You can find Sheffield City Council’s air quality information on its website https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/pollution-nuisance/air-quality.

Animal Breeding: Game

Jared O'Mara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban purpose-bred pheasants and partridges for the shooting industry.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The government has no plans to ban the breeding of pheasants and partridges for the shooting industry.

Air Pollution

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the criteria are for successful applications by local authorities for funding from the Government's Clean Air Fund.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government has announced a Clean Air Fund, which will allow local authorities to bid for additional money to support the implementation of measures to improve air quality. This could include interventions such as improvements to local bus fleets, support for concessionary travel and more sustainable modes of transport such as cycling, or infrastructure changes. These interventions could enable local authorities to avoid the imposition of restrictions on vehicles, such as charging zones. To ensure the Fund fits the specific needs of each local area there will be a competitive process through which local authorities bid for support. As set out in the air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in UK, the Government will provide further detail on the Clean Air Fund later this year.

Waste Management

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Local Government Association and individual local authorities on their progress on waste minimisation.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Surveys for black grouse are generally carried out at country level, but vary in frequency and sampling methods. It is therefore not possible to provide estimates at the UK level for the last five years. The last comprehensive survey of the black grouse population was undertaken in 2005, which estimated there were approximately 5100 breeding pairs in Great Britain. In 2016 a formal estimate of the black grouse population in Great Britain was produced by several UK conservation bodies drawing on the data produced by country level surveys and using the International Union for Conservation of Nature methodology. The 2016 population of black grouse was estimated to be 5775 males (or breeding pairs).

Curlews: Conservation

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to protect the red-listed curlew; and if he will meet the Southern Curlew Forum to assist in the monitoring and conservation of remaining breeding birds in lowland England.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The England network of 87 classified special protection areas, covering approximately 1.5 million hectares of key habitats, protects many rare, threatened and vulnerable birds including curlews. Natural England is working with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on a recovery programme aimed at providing a coordinated approach to the management of curlew habitats to increase breeding numbers. This forms part of an international action plan to address curlew decline, which the UK supports as a signatory of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement. The Government’s agri-environment schemes have been designed to encourage habitat management. This includes providing suitable nesting and foraging conditions for wading birds such as curlew.

Pet Travel Scheme

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pet passports have been issued in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) issue blank pet passports to approved Official Veterinarian (OV) practices who then issue these for cats, dogs and ferrets to move under the Pet Travel Scheme. The below data is for numbers of blank pet passports issued to OV practices by APHA. We do not record the number of pet passports issued by OV practices to individual animals, however carriers do record the number of times pets travel. YearTotal number of pet passports issued to OV practices20126400020136817520147232520151197042016954492017 (to date)81461 In December 2014 new model pet passports were introduced as a result of a new EU Regulation covering pet movements. This will account for the increase in the number of pet passports issued to OV practices in 2015.

Black Grouse: Conservation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many black grouse there were in the UK in each of the last five years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Surveys for black grouse are generally carried out at country level, but vary in frequency and sampling methods. It is therefore not possible to provide estimates at the UK level for the last five years. The last comprehensive survey of the black grouse population was undertaken in 2005, which estimated there were approximately 5100 breeding pairs in Great Britain. In 2016 a formal estimate of the black grouse population in Great Britain was produced by several UK conservation bodies drawing on the data produced by country level surveys and using the International Union for Conservation of Nature methodology. The 2016 population of black grouse was estimated to be 5775 males (or breeding pairs).

Beverage Containers: Recycling

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make representations to Cornwall Council on increasing the quantity of beverage cartons it recycles.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government wants to maximise recycling and to promote comprehensive collections of materials. I would encourage Cornwall and all other local councils to take opportunities to recycle more materials where they can and to make it easier for householders to recycle. This Government remains committed to increasing recycling rates and is developing a Resources and Waste Strategy.

European Chemicals Agency

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to seek the UK's continued participation with the European Chemicals Agency, as set out under Article 106 of EU Regulation 1907/2006, after the UK leaves the EU.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Withdrawal Bill will convert current EU law into domestic law wherever practical, giving consumers and businesses as much certainty as possible. This includes laws relating to chemicals. The UK is strongly committed to the effective and safe management of chemicals. That will not change when we leave the EU. While it would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations we will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in chemicals regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU.

Water Charges: Schools

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average water and sewerage charge was for schools across local authorities in the North West in 2016-17.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average water and sewerage charge was for schools across local authorities in the South East in 2016-17.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average water and sewerage charge was for schools in Garston and Halewood constituency in 2016-17.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to review the application to schools of the Guidance to Water and Sewerage Undertakers in relation to Concessionary Schemes for Community Groups for Surface Water and Highways Drainage Charges.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Information on average water and sewerage charges for particular groups of customers is not readily available centrally. Water companies set out the basis for all their charges in charges schemes, published annually on their websites. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does not intend to undertake another review of the guidance in relation to concessionary schemes for community groups for surface water drainage charges, following the review carried out last year. The guidance allows water companies the flexibility to introduce concessions that best suit their local circumstances. This has meant, for example, that United Utilities has been able to introduce the following changes for schools with playgrounds teaching key stages 1-5: a bill credit of 15% on wholesale surface water and highway drainage charges for 2017/18; anda 50% reduction to wholesale surface water and highway drainage charges from 2018/19 onwards. This would represent approximately a 40% reduction in the overall wastewater bill.

Home Office

Gun Sports

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any civilian target shooting club in the UK is approved by her Department to use armour piercing or explosive ammunition.

Mr Nick Hurd: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 01 November 2017.The correct answer should have been:

A small number of shooting clubs are approved to use firearms which use armour-piercing ammunition. The possession of armour-piercing or explosive ammunition is prohibited under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 and can only be used with theauthority of the Secretary of State. No such authority has been granted for the use of such ammunition by civilian target shooting clubs.

Mr Nick Hurd: A small number of shooting clubs are approved to use firearms which use armour-piercing ammunition. The possession of armour-piercing or explosive ammunition is prohibited under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 and can only be used with theauthority of the Secretary of State. No such authority has been granted for the use of such ammunition by civilian target shooting clubs.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the total number of applications for a 12 months leave to remain visa made under her Department's discretionary policy for survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire have been received from people who (a) already had an outstanding asylum claim, (b) were already known either to her Department or the local authority and (c) had spouses who have immigration status within the UK.

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications have been received by her Department for the discretionary 12 months leave to remain visa for survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Brandon Lewis: The dedicated Grenfell immigration policy is a targeted scheme that we expect to benefit a limited number of people.We have plans to publish statistics on the Grenfell immigration policy in due course and will not be providing updates on numbers in the meantime.Details of who is eligible under the policy can be found in the published guidance at the link below.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grenfell-tower-fire-handling-immigration-cases

Immigrants: Southwark

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people living in (a) Camberwell and Peckham constituency and (b) the London Borough of Southwark have (i) been detained for immigration purposes and (ii) successfully appealed a Home Office decision to detain them for immigration purposes in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The information requested could only be supplied at disproportionate cost. There is no process of appeal against detention decisions, but detainees are able to apply to a judge of the First-tier Tribunal for bail, as many times as they wish. They are also able to challenge the lawfulness of detention via judicial review or writ of habeas corpus.

European Border and Coast Guard Agency

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the UK plans to seek (a) observer status at or (b) formal participation in the European Border and Coast Guard Agency after the UK has left the EU.

Brandon Lewis: Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, builds on provisions of the Schengen agreement in which the UK does not participate. The UK is not therefore bound by the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation although we are supportive of steps to increase the security of the external Schengen border and currently participate in Frontex operations on a voluntary basis. We have a strong interest in effective management of the external border, not just in combating illegal migration and cross-border crime, but also as part of the EU-wide counter-terrorism effort. Our future cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency will be considered as part of wider negotiations for the UK’s exit from the EU.

European Asylum Support Office

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to seek formal operational cooperation with the European Asylum Support Office as set out in that office's External Action Strategy after the UK has left the EU.

Brandon Lewis: The UK continues to provide resource to EASO to help Member States whose asylum and reception systems are under pressure. Last year, the Government took a decision not to opt in to the proposed EU Agency for Asylum, which will replace EASO. Written Ministerial Statement HCWS373 of 16 December refers. Until EASO is replaced, we remain a full member, maintaining voting rights at the management board and playing a strong role in influencing EU asylum policy. While the UK remains a member of the EU, we will continue to remain fully engaged in EU discussions on migration and security. The Government will consider the UK’s future relationship with the EU in terms of asylum cooperation as part of the broader EU exit negotiations.

Refugees: Sexual Offences

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the recommendation of page 5 of the Women for Refugee Women's report, We are still here, published in November 2017, if she will implement a proactive screening process to ensure that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and others who are vulnerable are identified before detention.

Brandon Lewis: Home Office immigration policy operates with a presumption against detention. If people are detained, it is for the minimum time possible, and their dignity and welfare is of the utmost importance.The adults at risk in immigration detention policy, which came into force in September 2016, considers individual circumstances and strengthens the presumption against detention to ensure that vulnerable people are not detained inappropriately.The Home Office has in place arrangements for identifying and assessing vulnerable individuals, including victims of sexual or gender-based violence. For example, the single gatekeeper function independently assesses the suitability of individuals for immigration detention, with a focus on the presumption of liberty, alternatives to detention and voluntary return.

Immigrants: Detainees

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to develop alternatives to immigration detention on the basis of support and engagement in the community.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office is clear that in tackling immigration abuse we will use alternatives to immigration detention wherever possible. This includes community engagement by our immigration enforcement teams, and the development of the compliant environment to prevent access by illegal migrants to work, services and benefits, designed to encourage compliance and maximise voluntary returns. A Voluntary Return Service exist to support those wishing to leave the UK, and can include assistance with organising travel and reintegration support in their country of return. Whilst detention will continue to be used to enforce returns where necessary, depriving someone of their liberty will always be subject to careful consideration and will take account of individual circumstances. Our aim is to focus on developing an immigration enforcement system founded upon compliance and less reliant upon detention.

Bail: EU Nationals

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many bail applications were made by EU nationals held in immigration detention in the last 12 months; and how many of those applications were successful.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office does not hold the data requested in a reportable format.Every individual detained under Immigration Act powers is eligible to apply for release on bail. Such bail applications may be made to the Home Office and/or to an independent judge of the First-tier Tribunal. Detained individuals may apply for bail at any time.

Skilled Workers

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the value to the UK economy of mid-level skills or those at Standard Occupational Classification levels 2 and 3; and if she will make a statement.

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Ministers from other Departments on the value to the UK economy of mid-level skills or those skills at Standard Occupational Classification levels 2 and 3; and what plans her Department has to ensure that any future changes to immigration policy allow businesses to continue to access those mid-level skills necessary for growth and employment in the UK.

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what external engagement her Department is engaged in to improve its understanding of the importance to the UK economy of access to mid-skilled labour or labour rated at Standard Occupational Classification skill levels 2 and 3; and if she will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: We are considering a range of options for our future immigration arrangements and are clear that we must manage the process properly so that the system serves the national interest. On 27 July 2017, we commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the economic and social impacts of the UK’s exit from the European Union and also on how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy. As part of this, the MAC has been asked to consider a number of factors including skill level.They are due to report on their findings in September 2018. Full details about the MAC commission can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/migration-advisory-committee

Refugees: Syria

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refugees have been resettled under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office is committed to publishing data in an orderly way as part of the regular quarterly Immigration Statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Latest statistics published on 24 August 2017 confirmed that a total of 8,535 vulnerable people have been resettled since the start of the scheme. The statistics are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Staff

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff appointed after 24 June 2016 in his Department hold a post that includes work on the UK leaving the EU.

David Mundell: The UK’s exit from the EU is an all-of-government operation. The Department for Exiting the European Union is undertaking detailed work with departments, including the Scotland Office, to prepare for the upcoming negotiations by understanding the risks and opportunities of leaving the EU and coordinating planning. Staff across the Scotland Office, including those employed before and since 24 June 2016, provide advice to Ministers on EU Exit and exit-related issues. Given the interactions between EU exit work and the Department’s other priorities, it would not be possible to give an accurate figure.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Department for Exiting the European Union: Telephone Services

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, which public telephone lines for his Department's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each such telephone line in the last 12 months.

Mr Steve Baker: The Department for Exiting the European Union does not have any public phone-lines which charge members of the public to call.

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Procurement

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what funding his Department has made available to support the work of delivery partners in (a) the English regions and (b) overseas.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many delivery partners his Department has.

Mark Garnier: We have eight delivery partners providing English regional services through nine contracts and 32 delivery partners across 32 markets to provide our overseas services.The budgeted figures for 2017/18 are £25.4m and £9.2m for supporting the work of delivery partners in the English regions and overseas respectively.

Department for International Trade: Telephone Services

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which public telephone lines for his Department's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each such telephone line in the last 12 months.

Greg Hands: None of the Department’s published phone numbers which provide access to the Department’s export and investment support services are charged at higher rates than standard.

Trade Agreements: USA

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2017 to Question 109062, whether the Government plans for the trade remedies investigating authority to be operational by the end of March 2019.

Greg Hands: The creation of a Trade Remedies Authority is essential to protect UK industry against unfair and injurious trade practices and to ensure the UK is able to make a smooth exit from the EU.In order to ensure continuity in relation to our trade around the world and avoid disruption for business and other stakeholders, the UK needs to prepare ahead of its exit from the EU for all possible outcomes of the negotiations, and ensure that we have made the necessary arrangements to operate a fully functioning trade policy, including our own Trade Remedies Authority.In doing so, the Government will take account of the terms of any time-limited implementation period agreed between the UK and the EU.

World Trade Organisation

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to encourage World Trade Organisation (WTO) members to meet their obligations under Article 25 of the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

Greg Hands: The UK is a strong supporter of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) subsidies rules. The Government believes that it is critical for WTO members to notify their subsidies and meet their other obligations under Article 25 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. The EU and other WTO Members have put forward proposals to encourage notification and the Government will continue to engage with that work. Once the UK has left the EU, we will be looking to ensure that all WTO obligations are fulfilled.

Department of Trade: Staff

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff appointed after 24 June 2016 in his Department hold a post that includes work on the UK leaving the EU.

Greg Hands: I refer the hon Member for Wrexham to the answer I gave to the Rt hon Member for Tottenham on 17 October: UIN 106579.

Department for International Trade: Visits Abroad

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which countries he has visited on official business in the last 12 months.

Greg Hands: My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has visited 27 countries on official business in the last 12 months: 17th November 2016 – 17th November 2017.The countries he visited are:; Oman; Germany; Brazil; Qatar; Hong Kong; Switzerland; Kuwait; Canada; Singapore; Vietnam; Indonesia; Philippines; Malaysia; Japan; USA; France; Mexico; Panama; Colombia; South Africa; Mozambique; Belgium; Netherlands; Saudi Arabia; UAE; Ethiopia and Uganda.

Trade Agreements: Turkey

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Turkish Government about the future trading relationship between the UK and Turkey after March 2019.

Greg Hands: Holding answer received on 17 November 2017



The UK Government wants to ensure that the strong trading relationship between the UK and Turkey continues after the UK leaves the EU. The Secretary of State for International Trade has met Minister Nihat Zeybecki and officials continue to work closely together through the UK-Turkey Trade Working Group. Officials met in London for a meeting of the Working Group on 9 November.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Cybercrime

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2017 to Question 109965, if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent to registered consultancies of the Government's Cyber Essentials scheme whose data was exposed owing to a configuration error in the Pervade Software platform.

Matt Hancock: I refer the Hon member to my answer to PQ 108123. The email was sent by IASME - not by the Government. IASME own the content of that communication. It was reported in the media that the email contained the following information: "We would like to make you aware that, due to a configuration error in the Pervade Software platform we use for Cyber Essentials assessments, the email address you used to apply for an assessment and your company name may have been released to a third party..." "We would like to make it clear that the security of the assessment platform has not been compromised. Your account, the answers you provided in the assessment and the report you received are secure. No information other than your email address and your company name was accessible to the third party." "An unknown person accessed a list of email addresses in a log file generated by the Pervade assessment platform and your email address, company name and the IP address of the Certification Body was on that list. No other information was accessed. The other information on the assessment portal itself was not affected in any way and no-one has accessed the system, your account, the answers you provided or the report you received. This log file became accessible through a configuration error on the part of one of the Pervade systems engineers. Pervade have taken immediate steps to address the error and have resolved the issue."

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Staff

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff appointed after 24 June 2016 in her Department hold a post that includes work on the UK leaving the EU.

Matt Hancock: Exit is an all-of-government operation. The Department for Exiting the European Union is doing detailed work with departments to prepared for the upcoming negotiations by understanding the risks and opportunities of leaving the EU and coordinating planning. Staff within the DCMS EU Team lead on providing advice to Ministers on EU Exit and exit-related issues. Members of staff across the Department also provide advice and analyses on EU Exit issues as required. Given the interactions between EU exit work and the Department's other priorities, it would not be possible to give an accurate figure.

Tickets: Sales

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the prevalence of the resale of tickets at inflated prices for theatrical, musical and other artistic performances.

Matt Hancock: We are determined to crackdown on unacceptable behaviour and improve fans’ chances of buying tickets at a reasonable price. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 already includes rules about tickets offered for sale on the secondary market, and the Digital Economy Act passed earlier this year adds an additional requirement for ticket sellers to provide a unique ticket number when reselling a ticket resale, and provides the power to create a specific offence, where tickets are purchased electronically, of purchasing more tickets than the maximum permitted. We have provided funding for enforcement action to be taken by Trading Standards against sellers who are in breach of consumer law. The Competition and Markets Authority has also launched an enforcement investigation into suspected breaches of consumer protection law in the online secondary ticketing market which is hoped will drive further transparency in the secondary market.B

Department of Health

Health Services: Standards

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to hold NHS England and NHS Improvement to account about the failure of the NHS to meet the 18-week referral to treatment target since February 2016.

Mr Philip Dunne: Maintaining and improving patient access standards, including the 18-week referral to treatment (RTT) target, is a key objective of the Mandate to NHS England in 2017/18. NHS England has set out their approach to meeting and improving patient access standards in the ‘Next steps on the NHS Five Year Forward View’1 which was produced in partnership with organisations including NHS Improvement. The Department uses performance data2 published on a monthly basis by NHS England to monitor compliance with the referral to treatment standard. There are robust processes in place to hold NHS England and NHS Improvement to account and action to ensure compliance with the RTT standard is discussed in the course of this process. The latest published data for September 2017 shows that average waiting times for consultant led RTT remain low, at 6.4 weeks for non-admitted patients and 10.4 weeks for admitted patients.  Notes:1https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/next-steps-on-the-nhs-five-year-forward-view/2https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times

Eyesight: Testing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many sight tests were carried out on the NHS in each clinical commissioning group area in the last 12 months for which data is available; and how many referrals for treatment there were for (a) AMD, glaucoma, (c) cataract and (d) diabetic eye disease in each such area in that same period.

Steve Brine: Data on the number of National Health Service sight tests is published as part of the General Ophthalmic Services activity statistics – England. Data is not broken down centrally to clinical commissioning group level. Data is held at the old NHS England area team level. The latest data (2016/17) is available in the table below:  NHS funded sight tests providedEngland12,995,512North of England Commissioning Region3,790,619Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral Area Team326,988Durham, Darlington and Tees Area Team297,212Greater Manchester Area Team661,857Lancashire Area Team371,998Merseyside Area Team268,316Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Area Team466,270North Yorkshire and Humber Area Team447,007South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Area Team358,000West Yorkshire Area Team592,971Midlands and East of England Commissioning Region4,267,276Arden, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Area Team407,761Birmingham and The Black Country Area Team697,504Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Area Team477,935East Anglia Area Team637,926Essex Area Team461,967Hertfordshire and The South Midlands Area Team682,369Leicestershire and Lincolnshire Area Team487,956Shropshire and Staffordshire Area Team413,858London Commissioning Region1,623,908London Area Team1,623,908South of England Commissioning Region3,313,709Bath, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire Area Team357,439Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire Area Team357,718Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Area Team455,674Kent and Medway Area Team412,732Surrey and Sussex Area Team674,937Thames Valley Area Team436,231Wessex Area Team618,978 Data is not available on the number of referrals for treatment for age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic eye disease.

Eyesight: Research

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent from the public purse on each category of eye research by the (a) National Institute for Health Research and (b) Medical Research Council in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including eye research; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. Total spending on eye research from 2009/10 to 2016/17 by the NIHR was £113.7 million; and by the MRC from 2010/11 to 2016/17 was £70.4 million. The NIHR and MRC were not able to provide spend broken down by the categories requested. However, information on individual projects funded by the NIHR can be found at: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/And by the MRC at: http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/

Eyesight: Medical Treatments

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with medical research organisations on the potential use of stem cells research and gene therapies to improve eye treatments; and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department, through the National Institute of Health Research, works closely with the Medical Research Council, and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult as well as with the charity and commercial sectors in the application of new techniques to treat ocular disease.

Influenza: Vaccination

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the take-up of flu vaccination in people with chronic respiratory disease.

Steve Brine: Encouraging take-up of the flu vaccination in people with chronic respiratory disease is primarily a matter for Public Health England (PHE). PHE, in partnership with NHS England, is currently running the national multi-channel campaign ‘Stay Well This Winter’, which encourages people who are most at-risk of preventable emergency admission to hospital to take actions to help them stay well, such as getting a flu vaccination and visiting a pharmacy at the first sign of a winter illness. Television adverts encourage people with long-term health conditions including breathlessness and lung disease to get the flu vaccine. The radio and social media advertising specifically target people with chronic lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, bronchitis and asthma. PHE also works with the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK to help promote flu vaccine take-up to their supporters.

Influenza: Vaccination

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential relationship between the uptake of the flu vaccination in people with chronic respiratory disease and hospital admission rates for people with that disease.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) is responsible for monitoring public health vaccination programmes, including the influenza vaccine programme. It particularly monitors vaccine uptake, effectiveness and safety. Hospital admissions in persons with chronic respiratory disease are due to a wide range of causes, one of which can be flu. No study has been undertaken on the potential relationship between uptake of the flu vaccine in people with chronic respiratory disease and hospital admissions for people with chronic respiratory disease. However, PHE flu vaccine uptake monitoring has shown that the group 16-65 years of age with chronic respiratory disease had an uptake of 49.1% in 2016/17. There was an estimated flu vaccine effectiveness of 40.6% in this age-group against laboratory confirmed influenza, which would include individuals with chronic respiratory disease.

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many men have received the HPV vaccine through the HPV vaccination pilot for men who have sex with men; and how many such men received (a) one dose, (b) two doses or (c) three doses of the vaccine.

Steve Brine: Data on the number of men who have received the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine through the HPV vaccination pilot for men who have sex with men and how many such men received each of the doses will be published in the near future. It will be published on the GOV.UK website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hpv-vaccination-pilot-for-men-who-have-sex-with-men-msm

Cataracts: Surgery

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the waiting times have been for cataract surgery in each clinical commissioning group in each of the last three years.

Mr Philip Dunne: A count of finished admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of cataracts and a primary cataract procedure, by clinical commissioning group, with average waiting times (days) for the financial years 2014-15 to 2016-17 is supplied in the attached table. This is a count of hospital activity, not individual patients as the same person may have been admitted into an National Health Service hospital on more than one occasion.



PQ111662 attached table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 41.91 KB)

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans =he-she has to reform the process for (a) appraisal and (b) funding of life-extending medicines for cancer patients.

Steve Brine: Following a public consultation, NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence introduced new arrangements for the appraisal and funding of cancer drugs in July 2016. The new arrangements, including the Cancer Drugs Fund, are designed to ensure that patients benefit from faster access to the most promising new drugs whilst delivering better value for money for the taxpayer. On 3 November, the Government published its response to the Accelerated Access Review. It set out plans to give patients quicker access to life-changing treatments and make the United Kingdom the best place in the world for industry to invest and innovate. From April 2018, the new Accelerated Access Pathway will mean selected products with the greatest potential to change lives could be available up to four years earlier by reducing the time taken to negotiate the evaluation and financial approvals necessary before the National Health Service can purchase them.

Malnutrition: Children

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children were admitted to hospital with malnutrition as a (a) primary or (b) secondary condition in (i) England, (ii) each clinical commissioning group and (iii) each parliamentary constituency in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: A count of patients aged 0-17 admitted to hospital in England with malnutrition as a primary and secondary condition in each of the last 10 years is provided in the table below. Year2007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-20152015-20162016-2017Primary Admissions49425556485229494252Secondary Admissions151200167226209234234233315290Source: Hospital Episode Statistics NHS Digital A count of patients aged 0-17 admitted to hospital in England with malnutrition as a primary and secondary condition by each clinical commissioning group (CCG) is provided in the attached document. Data is provided for National Health Service primary care trusts (PCTs) for the years between 2007-08 and 2009-10. CCG data is provided from 2010-11 onwards following their formation as replacement for PCTs. Data is not collected at parliamentary constituency level. This is a count of hospital attendances resulting in admissions, not individual patients as the same person may have been admitted into a NHS hospital on more than one occasion.



PQ111554 attached table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 52.14 KB)

Malnutrition

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were admitted to hospital with malnutrition as a (a) primary or (b) secondary condition in (i) England, (ii) each clinical commissioning group and (iii) each parliamentary constituency in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: A count of people admitted to hospital in England with malnutrition as a primary and secondary condition in each of the last 10 years is provided in the table below. Year2007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-20152015-20162016-2017Primary Admissions407394479543662682625746754806Secondary Admissions2,3182,8043,3384,1674,7724,8936,0786,6497,1577,652Source: Hospital Episode Statistics NHS Digital A count of people admitted to hospital in England with malnutrition as a primary and secondary condition by each clinical commissioning group (CCG) in each of the last 10 years is provided in the attached document. Data for National Health Service primary care trusts (PCTs) for the years between 2007-08 and 2009-10 is provided. CCG data from 2010-11 onwards is provided following their formation as replacement for PCTs. Data is not collected at parliamentary constituency level. This is a count of hospital attendances resulting in admissions, not individual patients as the same person may have been admitted into a NHS hospital on more than one occasion.



PQ111553 attached table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 59.58 KB)

Breast Cancer: Drugs

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve patient access to preventative drugs for breast cancer.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its guideline on the diagnosis and management of early and locally advanced breast cancer. The use of adjuvant bisphosphonates has been identified as one of the key areas that will be covered in the update which is scheduled for publication in July 2018. In the meantime, NICE has published an evidence summary on the use of adjuvant bisphosphonates in early breast cancer. NHS England expects clinical commissioning groups to take account of NICE guidelines and local population needs when making commissioning decisions.

Lung Cancer: Medical Treatments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce the matchstick procedure to treat lung cancer on the NHS.

Steve Brine: It is for local National Health Service commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund new treatments, taking into account National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, available evidence and individual patient’s clinical circumstances. The future availability of any new or novel treatments would be subject to large scale clinical trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the treatment approach and subsequent assessments of its cost effectiveness for routine use.

Surgery: Waiting List

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 10723, on waiting lists, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the NHS takes all reasonable steps to offer patients who are waiting more than 18 weeks for elective care a suitable alternative provider.

Mr Philip Dunne: National Health Service commissioners have a legal duty1 described within the National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 to take all reasonable steps to offer an alternative provider appointment where the 18 week waiting time has not been met. NHS waiting times standards are set out as rights and pledges in the NHS Constitution and the accompanying Handbook to the NHS Constitution. These must be taken into account by all NHS bodies and providers supplying NHS services. The Handbook to the NHS Constitution confirms that patients need to make contact with their provider or local clinical commissioning group before alternative providers can be investigated. NHS England guidance has been published to inform commissioners of their legal duties around waiting times and supply resources to support implementation. This is available on the NHS England website2 as part of a suite of materials for commissioners. The latest published data for September 2017 shows that average waiting times for consultant led referral to treatment remain low, at 6.4 weeks for non-admitted patients and 10.4 weeks for admitted patients. Notes:1http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2996/pdfs/uksi_20122996_en.pdf2https://www.england.nhs.uk/resources/rtt

Knee Replacements: Surgery

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how long is the average waiting time for a double knee replacement operation on the NHS.

Mr Philip Dunne: A count of elective1 finished admission episodes (FAEs)2 with a secondary procedure3 of bilateral (double) knee replacement operation, as well as the mean and median waiting times (days), for the 2016-17 financial year4 is provided in the table below.  2016-17Admissions337Mean elective waiting time (days)124.8Median elective waiting time (days)111Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS DigitalThis is a count of hospital activity, not individual patients as the same person may have been admitted into a hospital on more than one occasion.Notes: 1Waiting list. A patient admitted electively from a waiting list having been given no date of admission at a time a decision was made to admit.Booked. A patient admitted having been given a date at the time the decision to admit was made, determined mainly on the grounds of resource availability. 2A FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 3As well as the main procedure, there are up to 23 (11 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 3 prior to 2002-03) secondary procedure fields in HES that show secondary procedures performed on the patient during the episode of care. 4HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information. Note that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity ending between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.

General Practitioners: Insurance

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made on the development of medical indemnity insurance for GPs.

Mr Philip Dunne: We recognise that the rising cost of indemnity cover is a source of concern for general practitioners (GPs). This is why on 12 October 2017 my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that the Government would develop a state-backed indemnity scheme for general practice in England. This complex piece of work is at an early stage, we are working with GP representatives and others to develop our plans. We expect the scheme will take 12-18 months to develop.

Injuries: Accident and Emergency Departments

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were admitted via accident and emergency with a primary diagnosis of dislocation, fracture, joint injury or amputation in each month of the financial years (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15, (f) 2015-16 and (g) 2016-17.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the Rt. hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Easington (Grahame Morris MP) on 6 November 2017 to Question 110554.

Injuries: Accident and Emergency Departments

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were admitted via accident and emergency with a primary diagnosis of a muscle or tendon injury in each month of the financial years (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15, (f) 2015-16 and (g) 2016-17.

Mr Philip Dunne: A count of unplanned accident and emergency (A&E) attendances1 that resulted in a hospital admission2, for primary diagnosis of 'muscle or tendon injury'3, by month, 2010-11 and 2016-174 is provided in the table below. This is a count of hospital attendances resulting in admissions, not individual patients as the same person may have been admitted into a National Health Service hospital on more than one occasion.  Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sectorMonth2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17April990707727624940949880May8908016966791,0458291,032June873648699578962923995July726692669705941955918August8047057276559311,000885September689704731664870894820October693697656721903885842November597668569718907882745December646686653787803880743January601679630774802807790February597614588812841814823March661686626901960912886Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital Notes: 1The following attendance category codes identify unplanned A&E attendances:1 = First A&E attendance3 = Follow-up A&E attendance – unplanned9 = Not known2Attendance disposal 01 = Admitted to hospital bed / become a lodged patient of the same health care provider.3A&E Diagnosis - Please note that the recording of the diagnosis field within the A&E data set is not mandatory. It is not known to what extent changes over time are as a result of improvements in recording practice.07 = Muscle/tendon injury4HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. It should be noted that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity occurring between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.

Air Pollution: Housing

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the  implications for his policies of the finding of the World Health Organisation's report, Preventing Noncomunicable Diseases by Reducing Environmental Risk Factors, published on 12 September 2017, (a) in general and (b) on the adverse health effects and premature mortality risks associated with indoor air pollution; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The World Health Organization's report, ‘Preventing Non-communicable Diseases by Reducing Environmental Risk Factors’, published on 12 September 2017, will be taken into consideration along with the rest of the relevant evidence base when developing cross-government policy. The Department of has recently asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to develop guidance on indoor air pollution at home. The focus will be on interventions related to the structure of, ventilation of, and materials used in, new / existing or retrofitted homes as well as on people’s knowledge, attitude and behaviour in relation to indoor air pollution. The guideline is going to be published in spring 2019. Public Health England has developed a programme in support of national and local government to reduce mortality in England attributable to air pollution. This will be achieved by helping raise awareness of the health effects of air pollution and by further developing the evidence on the health effects of air pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and ozone. The focus is on promoting actions that can bring multiple health co-benefits.

NHS: Pay

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to allocate funding to the NHS to finance the lifting of the NHS pay cap.

Mr Philip Dunne: The detail of 2018/19 pay remits for specific pay review bodies will be discussed and set out in due course. The Government recognises the financial pressures within the National Health Service and will make decisions on funding at the appropriate time after listening to the pay review bodies.

General Practitioners: Attendance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the funding per patient is awarded to Babylon Health as part of its GP appointment trial.

Steve Brine: “GP at Hand” is a practice operating under the traditional general medical services (GMS) contract. The normal weighted capitation allowances practices receive through a GMS contract remain the same. Any arrangement the practice have agreed with Babylon Health is commercially sensitive information that remains with the practice.

General Practitioners: Attendance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Babylon Health on the criteria for that company to refuse to accept patients for the GP appointment trial.

Steve Brine: The Department and the National Health Service want to ensure that all patients have access to high quality primary care when they need it. Technological advances mean there are now more innovative ways patients can access health services and we are exploring how we can make the most of those. ‘GP at Hand’ is a practice in North West London operating under a general medical services contract. They offer traditional general medical services to patients registered with them. The enhanced model they are implementing now focuses on a digital first service through the use of a mobile app which is provided by Babylon Health. It also provides in-person services should patients require them at sites in and outside of Hammersmith and Fulham Clinical Commissioning Group area. This is made possible under the national GP Choice Policy enabling patients outside of the practice area to register with the practice. Any practice can register patients outside of their practice area using the GP Choice Policy. It may not be suitable for a patient managing a medical emergency or with complex needs to register with a practice that is not local to them. NHS England will continue to evaluate the service to ensure it is delivering for all patients who use it.

Thyroid Gland: Medical Treatments

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the non-availability of Lithyronine on the NHS on patients who have previously being prescribed that drug.

Steve Brine: NHS England’s consultation on draft guidance for clinical commissioning groups on a range of items that should not routinely be prescribed in primary care ended on 21 October. We would not want to pre-empt any outcome following NHS England’s analysis of the responses it has received. However, we are assured that as part of issuing the final guidance, careful consideration will be given by NHS England to the responses to the consultation, both to ensure that particular groups of people are not disproportionately affected and that principles of best practice on clinical prescribing are adhered to – including guidance on the usage of liothyronine. Further information can be found at the following link:https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/items-routinely-prescribed/

Pupils: Diabetes

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on guidance to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools on ensuring that they understand the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and their responsibilities to children with medical conditions.

Steve Brine: The Department and its arm’s length bodies maintain a continuous dialogue with colleagues across government on a range of issues, including how best to meet the health needs of schoolchildren. It is important that children with medical conditions such as diabetes are supported appropriately. Statutory guidance for governing bodies of maintained schools and proprietors of academies in England is the guidance agreed between the Department of Health and Department for Education for schools in 2014 (and reviewed since) on their responsibilities for supporting children and young people in school who have a health condition, including managing their access to medicines, and other adjustments necessary to maintain their health and wellbeing while at school. This includes supporting children with diabetes.

Thyroid Gland: Medical Treatments

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure Lithyronine sold by third parties meets legal requirements and its safe sale for patients to use.

Steve Brine: Liothyronine is a licensed medicine used for the treatment of hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland. Licensed medicines must meet standards of safety, quality and efficacy. Each batch of medicine must be tested before release for sale. The manufacturer, importer and distributors must also be licensed. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the United Kingdom competent authority for medicines, license medicines, their manufacture, importation and distribution and conduct inspections of sites of operation for compliance with good practice standards. Prescribers may, on their own personal responsibility, also prescribe an unlicensed medicine to meet the special clinical needs of their individual patient where those needs cannot be met by an available licensed medicine. Manufacturers, importers and distributors of unlicensed medicine are also licensed and inspected by MHRA. Importers must notify MHRA of the intention to import an unlicensed medicine. These notifications are assessed by MHRA for known safety or quality issues and objections to import may be raised if prohibitive issues are identified. Unlicensed Liothyronine has been manufactured and imported for UK patients. A prescriber or patient that suspects that their medicine is defective or is causing a side effect may report this to MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme for reporting suspected Adverse Drug Reactions from across the whole UK and includes all medicines.

Medicine: Internet

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the price of medication sold online by third parties.

Steve Brine: The Government is assessing the potential implications of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union across the medicines supply chain. While we cannot pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations, our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU will continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data.

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Telephone Services

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, which public telephone lines for the Government Equalities Office's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each such telephone line in the last 12 months.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government Equalities Office is currently responsible for two public helplines: The Equality Advisory and Support Service helpline and the Revenge Porn helpline. Neither helpline is charged at a higher rate. The Revenge Porn Helpline is run by a charity and neither they nor the Government make any money from it.